Police arrest eight over HK$6.2m dating scam operation
Police said on Monday they arrested eight people for allegedly operating compensated dating scams involving 80 cases, totalling HK$6.2 million over the past two years. Officers said the suspects presented fake name cards on social media platforms, pretending to be lawyers and tycoons, and offered between HK$50,000 and HK$70,000 a month to become the victims' sugar daddies. Officers said 65…
On Monday, police announced the arrest of eight individuals accused of running a compensated dating scam operation in Hong Kong, which involved 80 cases amounting to HK$6.2 million over the past two years. The suspects allegedly presented themselves as lawyers and tycoons on social media platforms, offering monthly payments ranging from HK$50,000 to HK$70,000 for their victims to become their "sugar daddies."
According to police, 65 percent of the victims were women, and over half of them worked in the services industry or as office workers. The largest individual case involved HK$480,000. All transactions were conducted online, with victims never meeting the scammers in person. Victims were required to pay a so-called legal fee before receiving the money, police stated.
Superintendent Cheung Hau-yee advised people to be cautious and verify the lawyers' identities directly rather than trusting the fake name cards provided by the scammers. Police made the arrests as part of an operation code-named "Tight Net" last week. The ringleader and a core member were charged with money laundering and conspiracy to defraud, and remain in custody, while the rest were released on bail.
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